Machine and method for repairing knitted fabrics



J. S. PECKER June 23, 1931.

MACHINE AND METHOD FOR REPAIRING KNITTED FABRICS Filed April 23, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTORNEY.

' June 23, 1931. J, 5, PECKER 1,811,330

MACHINE AND METHOD FOR REPAIRING KNITTED FABRICS Filed April 23. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 722872 for fitter 7161/.

June 23, 1931.

J. s. PECKE'R MACHINE AND METHOD FOR REPAIRING KNITTED FABRICS Filed April 23. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOM BY ATTORNEY Patented June 23, 1931 UNETED STATES EPATENT OFFIQE JOSEPH S. PFC-KER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO PATENT DEVELOPMENT 00., A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA MACHINE AND METHOD FOR- REPAIRING KNITTED FABRICS Application filed April 23, 1929. Serial No. 357,426.

The invention relates to a machine and method for repairing knitted fabrics.

One object of the present invention is to provide a simple, practical and eflicient machine of strong, durable and comparatively inexpensive construction designed to mend the runs in fabrics and particularly for mending the ladder-like'runs in silk stockings and equipped with a power actuated needle and a manually operable form adapted to enable the silk stocking to be readily placed and properly held in position to be operated on by the needle and capable of enabling the stocking to be manually fed to the needle to cause the same to manipulate the successive threads of a lad der-like run'and close the latter.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a machine designed to mend runs in fabrics and equipped with thereof.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sec tional view of a machine for repairing knitted fabrics constructed in accordance with this invention.

: Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same taken substantially on the line 22 of ig. 1, parts being in elevati Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the machine.

Fig. is horizontal sectional View of the machine.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the stocking feeding means.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional vi w illustrating the manner of mounting the eccentric roller.

In the accompanying drawings in which means for manipulating the threads of a run in the fabric to close the run, and means to support the fabricin position to be operated on by the thread manipulating means,

is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention for mending stockings, the machine comprises in its construction a vertically reciprocating needle bar 1 mounted in one of said means being operable in a predetermined definite position and the other means being arranged for movement at will by hand relative to the definitely positioned means, whereby the threadsof the run may be operated upon successively to close the run. i

A still further objectof the present in vention resides, in a means or method for repairing runs in knitted fabrics through the instrumentality of a mechanically reciprocating needle. adapted to operate through the run to manipulate the threads to close the run with the fabric supported on a form adapted to be fed at will by hand to the needle so as to presentfthe threads of the run successively to the needle.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and set forth in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, size, and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims,may be resorted to with a hollow head. 2 of a tubular or hollow arm 8 of a supporting frame 4 which may be constructed of any suitable material and which is designed to be mounted upon a table or other suitable support (not shown) in any desired manner as will be readily understood.

The head 2 is provided at its top and bot tom with vertically aligned guide openings 4 through which the needle bar slides and the latter is equipped. at its lower end with a needle 5 detachably secured in a socket in the lower end of the needle bar by a set screw 6. In practice tne head 2 will be of a sectional character to enable the parts to be readily assembled and the needle bar 1 is provided within the hollow head with a horizontally projecting arm 7 which is engaged by a coiled sprin 8 for yieldably moving the needle bar downwardly.

The coiled salin 8 is arran ed on an ad'usti'o screw 9 and is interposed between the said arm and the upper wall of the chamber of vhe hollow head. The

.crew which is threaded at 10 is provided at its lower end with stop 11 preferably in the formof a head or collar and adapted to be set at the proper elevation by adjusting the screw to limit the downwarcinovement of the needle 5. The head 11 which is preferably secured on a reduced terminalportion of the screw by a pin 12 forms a stop or abutment for the arm 7 of the needle bar and the coil spring 8 permits the needle bar to be limited in its downward movement;

The needle and needle bar are moved upwardly by means of a roller 13 mounted eccentrically on a head or collar 14- of a horizontal shaft 15 and engaging a horizontal shoulder 16 preferably formed by the lower edge of a lug or enlargement 17 of the needle bar .1.

The enlargement 17 is preferably tapered upwardly as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, but any other configuration'may, ofcourse, be employed, and the horizontal shoulder 16 against which the eccentric roller 13 abuts may be formed in any other desired manner. The collar or head 14tis' mounted on one end of the horizontal shaft dle bar and the needle by hand in adjusting the needle to the work.

The shaft also has mounted on it a grooved pulley 21 preferably formed integral with the hand or fly wheel20 and receiving a'belt 22 which extends to and is arranged on a grooved pulley 23011 the power shaft 24 of an electric motor 25 by means of which power is applied to the shaft 15 for rotating the same to reciprocate the needle bar vertically.-- lVhen the'shaft 15 is rotated, the eccentricroller 13 lifts the needle bar and the spring 8 moves the needle bar downwardly during the downward move-v ment of the eccentric roller. By this construction the needle in its vertical reciprocation is positively moved upwardly andis yieldably moved downwardly. Any other suitable mechanism may, of course, be em-. ployed for actuating the needle bar andin practice the speed of the motor will be con trolled by a suitable treadle-operated rheostat, so'that the needle bar and needle will be reciprocated vertically at the desirec speed.

The hand or fly wheel 20 and the grooved pulley 21 may be fixed to the end of the shaft 15 in any desired manner and instead of forming the grooved pulley 21 integral with the hand or fly wheel, any other suitable construction may, of course, be provided.

The electric motor 25 is suitably mounted on the frame of the machine at one side thereof as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, but it may be arranged in any other desired manner, as will be readily understood.

The needle is provided at its lower end with a hook 26 and it has a swinging latch 27 pivoted at 28 above the hook. lVhen the pivoted latch 27 is open, it exposes the hook 26 and when the latch is closed, it covers the throat or opening leading into the hook and forms an eye. In practice, the last perfect loop of the fabric to be repairedis placed in the-hook 26 and as the needle descends the said loop slides upwardly on the shank of the need-le opening the latch and moving upwardly on the needle until the latch 27 is released. The latch, when thus released,

drops by gravity andfalls overthe next the needle rises the hook 26 catches the latch engaged thread, and the latch closes Over the hook forming an eyeencasing or enclosing and confining the second thread. This thread is then pulled up. through the said loop, forming another loop, and this process is continued until all the cross threads are looped back into the fabric in substantially the samemanner as repairing the fabric by hand. Any other suitable construction of needle may, of course, be

employed. I

-During the said operation, the stocking is fed forward by hand to bring the cross threads successively in position to be operated on by the needle which reciprocates vertically throughthe run to be'repaired and the stocking is supported on amanually operated substantially cylindrical form or holder composed of a pair of similar disks or cylindrical sections .29 arranged between spaced projecting side portions 30 of a lower approximately horizontal arm 31 of the frame of the machine. The arm 31is preferablyhollow, as shown, and is located below and spaced from the upper hollow arm 3 and ,thespaced side portions 30 project outwardly and upwardly at the end of the arm 31,, asclearly illustrated inFig. l of the drawings. The disks or sections 29 consist ofouter peripheral portions,inner hub portions and connecting webs, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and the hub portions are mounted on a transverse shaft 32 and on sleeves 33 of'manually operable disks 34 arranged exteriorly of the spaced side portions 30 of the lower arm 31 of the frame and secured by screws 35 or other suitable means to the ends of the transverse shaft 32. The sleeves or tubular hub extensions 33 of the manually operable disks 34 extend inwardly from the inner faces of the disks 3 1 and are arranged in suitable bearing openings 36 of the side portions of the lower arm 31 and the said sleeves 36 form sockets to receive the end portions of the transverse shaft 32. The screws are threaded into the ends of the shaft 32 and the heads of the screws are preferably countersunk in the outer faces of the manually operable disks 34 and are arranged in flush relation with the outer faces of the said disks.

The hub portions of the cylindrical sections 29 of the form or holder are counterbored at the outer portions of the hubs of the sections to receive the sleeves 33 and the said sections 29, the shaft 32 and the manually-operable disks or members 34 ar rigidly connected together and rotate as a unit so that either one of the outer manually operable disks 34 maybe rotated byv the op erator to feed the stocking to the needle to present the cross threads of a run successively to the said needle as required in the repair operation. The manually operable disks 34 which are preferably rounded and hollowed out as shown, have knurled portions to enable them to be positively operated and securelyheld by the operator-so that there will be no liability of the form or support slipping in'the hand of the operator.

The sections 29 are provided at their inner sides with projecting hub portions 37 which 7 space the web portions and peripheries of the sections from each other and providing an intervening space 40 for the passage of the needle 5 to permit the needle to reciprocate through a run of a stocking arranged on and supported by the rotary manually operable form. are flanged at their periphery or rim of the required width and the rims are provided with transverse ribs 41 forming knurled or grooved portion for spacing the stitch. The

grooving is to obtain additional gripping surface on the stocking between the form wheel and the small I feed roller. The knurled portion may. be made of nonmetallic material such as rubber to obtain the same result. The portion of the stocking to be'repairedis laid on the rotary cylindrical form at the upper portion thereof and the cross threads of the run to be repaired are placed on the gripping surface formed by the ribs 41.

In practice the stocking will be stretched over the form and held by the hands of the operator at opposite sides of the form and the threads of the stocking will be maintained at the desired tension by the operator who simultaneously feeds the stocking to the needle without releasing the grip of the hands upon the stocking. The machine, by this construction and arrangement and operation possesses all the advantages of a power operated machine and at the same time permits the stocking'to be manipulated The sections 29 of the form' and stretched and fed by the hands of an expert operator to suit the requirements. This will enable all kinds of stockings from the most delicate web fabrics to the heavier thread fabrics to be repaired without liability of injuring the fabric by exerting too great a strain on the stocking. The groove or space between the sections of the cylindrical form for the passage of the needle forms a guide for enabling the operator to accurately guide the ladder-like threads of the run to the needle. The stocking is held down against the form by a foot 42.

The foot is composed of side portions and a connecting shank or attaching portion 43 is carried by the front end of a lever 44 extending longitudinally of the lower arm 31 and mounted on a transverse pin or pivot 45 arranged at the inner end of the lower arm 31 of the frame and at a point intermediate of the ends of the lever 44. The lever 4 is composed of front and rear arms, the front arm extending forwardly and being located above the lower arm of the frame and extending upwardly from the pivot 45.

The shank 43 is secured to the front end of the lever 44 and the sides of the foot are spaced apart to provide an intervening space or opening 46 for the passage of the needle, the said side portions of the foot corresponding with the sections of the form for holding the stocking against the form while the threads are being manipulated by the needle. The front arm of the lever 44 also carries a corrugated feed roll 47 mounted on a suitable pivot 48 and adapted to bear against the fabric in rear of the foot to cooperate with the form in feeding the stocking to pass the needle. The periphery of the feed roll 4* is provided with transverse ribs 48 corresponding with the ribs 41 of the sections of the form or holder and forming in.- tervening grooves. The ribs of the feed roll cooperate with the ribs of the rotary form in feeding the fabric away from the needle as the run is repaired and thesaid feed roll cooperates with the foot in holding the fabric down on the rotary cylindrical form.

The rear arm of the lever 44 extends into the frame of the machine and the rear end of the lever is connected by a rod 49 with a suitable treadle, not shown for enabling the foot and the feed roll to be readily lifted from the form when desired in adjusting the stocking on the form or for any other purpose during the repair operation and the said foot and feed roll after being lifted from the form, are automatically returned to their engaging or operative position by a coiled spring 50 as soon as the treadle is relieved of the pressure of the foot.

The coiled spring 50 is located above the rear arm of the lever 44 and is secured at its upper end to the frame of the machine preferably at the bottom of the bearing 18 to be swung upwardly and downwardly by erably at the point of attachment of the upper end of the rod 49. H 5

The vfoot of the feed roll may be perma nently held in an elevated ;position by means of the rotary cam 5i mounted on. a shaft or pivot 52 and arranged to engage the roar arm of the lever 44 at the upper edge there of. The shaft or pivot 52 extends from one side of the frame of the machine and has mounted on it an operating arm 53 adapted the operator to hold the foot and the feed roll elevated for a perio of time and al o to return the foot and the feed rollto their initial or operative position. The armz53 'may be arranged to cooperate with a stop 54 for limiting the movement the arm in one direction and in practice, the operating arm 53 will be svvungupwardly and for- Wardly against the stopwhen itv isdesired to raise the feed roll and the foot from contact With the Work permanently.

1. A machine for men-cling runsin fabrics including a needle provided with means for nianipulatin the threads of a run-to close cessively present the threads of a run'to the needle.

3. A machine for mending runs infabrics including a needle provided'Withmeans for manipulating the threads of a run to close the latter, a movable support adapted to receive the fabric for supporting the samein position to be operated on by the needle, said support being. manually operable by hand at Will'to feed the threads of a run successively" to the needle according to the gage of the fabric. 7

4. A machine for mending runs in fabrics including a needle provided with means for manipulating the threads of a run for closing the same, mechanism for effecting a continuous operation of the needle, a movable support adapted to receive the fabric and provided With means for holding the threads of a run in spaced relation, and manually operable means operable at will by hand for moving the said support for feed ng the threads by hand successively to the needle according to the gage'of the fabric.

'5. A machine for mending runs in fabrics the'latter, 'a pivotally mounted form ar ranged to receive the fabric and adapted to be rotated by handat Wlll'tO successively present the threads of a runto the needle according to the gage of thefabric.

7. Ac machine for mendingruns in fabrics including a needle provided with means for manipulating thethreads of a -run for closing the latter, power actuated mechanism for continuously operating the needle, and a substantially cylindrical form adaptedto receive and support the fabric beneath the needle, and ,manually rotatable alLWlll to successivelypresentthe threads of a run toftheneedle, according to the gage of the fabric. I 7

8. A machine for mending runs in fabrics including a needle provided With means for manipulating the threads of a run to close the latter, power actuated mechanism for effecting a continuous operation of the needle, and'manually operable means for supporting the fabricbeneath the needle and for successively presenting the threads of a run to the needle, said means comprising pivotally mountedsections spaced apart to provide-a passage Way for the needle and adapted to be moved at Will by hand according to the gage of the fabric- I r 9. A machine for mending-runs in fabrics including a power actuated needle provided with means for manipulating the threads of a run forclosing the latter, and a form'arrangedto support the fabric in position to be operated on by the needle and adapted to permit the fabric to be stretched over it and held by the hands of an operator at opposite sides of thelform, said form including a movable member manually operable to feed the fabric at will by hand to the needle Without the hands of the operator releasing their grip on the fabric,

10. A machine for mending runs in fabrics including a power actuated needle provided with means for manipulating the threads of.

a run for closingthe latter, and aform arranged to support a fabric in position to be operatedvon by the needle and including a manually operable member having hand re ceiving means at opposite, sides adapted to permit the operatorto hold the fabricin a stretched condition and simultaneously feed the fabric at will by hand to the needle.

- 11'. A machine for. mending runs in fabrics including a'power actuated needle provided with means for manipulating the threads of a run fer closing the latter, and a form arranged to support a fabric in position to be operated: on byIt-he needle and provided at opposite sides withmanually operable devices arranged to receive the hands of the operator to permit the operator to hold the fabric at opposite sides of the form in a stretched condition and simultaneously feed the fabric at will by hand to the needle without releasing the grip of the hands on the fabric.

' 12. A machine for mending runs in fabrics includin a power actuated needle provided with means for manipulating the threads of a run for closing the latter, and a form arranged to support a fabric in position to be operated on by the-needle and including a member mounted for rotary movement and provided at opposite sides of the form with manually operable devices arranged to permit the fabric to be held in a stretched condition at opposite sides of the form by the hands of the operator and to simultaneously rotate the member to feed the fabric to the needle without releasing the grip of the hands onthe same.

13. A machine for mending runs in fabrics including a power actuated needle provided with means for manipulating the threads of a run for closing the latter, and a form arranged to support a fabric in position to be operated on by the needle and including a substantially cylindrical support proyided with a needle receiving groove and having operating means located at opposite sides of the form and arranged to receive the hands of the operator and permit the same to simultaneously hold the fabric in a stretched condition over the form and feed the fabric to the needle without releasing the grip on the fabric. 7

14. A machine for mending runs in fabrics including a power'actuated needle provided with means for manipulating the threads of. a run for closing the latter, and a form including a projecting arm having a movable member arranged to receive a stocking and provided with a needle receiving groove and having transverse thread receiving grooves at opposite sides thereof, said form being adapted to be grasped by the hands of the operator at opposite sides of it to enable a stocking to be held in a stretched condition simultaneously with a hand feeding of a stocking to the needle.

15. A machine for mending runs in fabrics including a power actuated needle provided with means for manipulating the threads of a run for closing the latter, and a form including a cylinder provided with a needle receiving groove and having thread receiving portions at opposite sides of the groove, and manually operable disk-like members located at opposite sides of the form and adapted to receive the hands of the operator, permitting the operator to hold the stocking in a stretched condition over the form and simultaneously feed the stock ing at will by hand to the needle according to the gage of the fabric.

, 16. A machine for mending runs in fabrics including a power actuated needle provided with means for manipulating the threads of a run for closing the latter, a stocking supporting means including an arm, a cylinder mounted in the arm and composed of sections arranged to form a needle receiving groove, a shaft extending across the arm and receiving the cylinder, and substantially disk-like members connected with the shaft at the ends thereof and located at opposite sides of the arm to permit a stocking to be held at opposite sides of the form in a stretched condition by the hand of the operator and to be simultaneously fed at will by hand to the needle without releasing the grip of the hands on the stocking.

17. A machine for mending runs in fabrics including a needle provided with means for manipulating the threads of a run to close the latter, stocking supporting means ineluding an arm, having spaced side portions projecting outwardly and upwardly at the end of the arm, a shaft extending across the spaced portions of the arm, spaced rotatable members keyed to the shaft and located between the spaced portions of the arm and having hubs adapted to space the peripheries of said members apart to form a needle receiving groove, and substantially disk-like members connected with the ends of said shaft and having hubs to receive said shaft and by which the shaft is supported in the spaced portions of said arm, the peripheries of said spaced rotatable members having transverse ribs thereon for spacing the stitch of the fabric, whereby upon rotation of said disk-like members by hand the said shaft and the said rib rotatable members are rotated to feed the threads of the run at will successively to the needle.

18. A method of repairing runs in knitted fabrics consisting in supporting the fabric with the ladder-like threads of a run spaced apart, continuously reciprocating a needle at regular intervals and at uniform speed through the run to manipulate the threads thereof to close the run, holding the fabric by hand at opposite sides of the needle and tensioning the threads of the run and simultaneously feeding the fabric by hand at will to present the threads successively to the needle, according to the gage of the fabric.

19. A machine for mending runs in fabrics including means for manipulating the threads of a run to close the same, a movable form, to receive the fabric for supporting the same in position to be operated on by said. manipulating means, means for holding the fabric against: the form, said form being operable by hand so as to feed the threads of the run successively to the needle at the will of the operator. I

a 20. A machlne for mendlng runs 111 fabrics including a needle provided with means for manipulating the threads of a run to close the latter, va movable form adapted to receive the fabric for supporting the same in position to be operated on bythe needle, said movable form being vprovided with the threads to close the run and moving the form with the, fabric on the form to feed the same at will by hand to present the threads of therun successively to the needle;

I11 testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 26th day of March, 1929. V V JOSEPH S. PECKER.

transverse grooves adapted to form a, grip- 7' tervals and" at uniform speed through the run to manipulate the threads thereof to close the run, holding the fabric and tensioning the same by hand and simultaneously feeding the fabric at will by hand to present the'threadsv of the run successively'to the needlaf V 22. A method of repairing runs in knitted fabrics consist ng in supporting the fabric on a form, mechanically reciprocating a needle through the run to manipulate the threads to close the run, and simultaneously tensioning the threads of the fabric and feeding the fabricat will by hand to present the threads of the run successively to the needle without changing the position of the fabric on the form. V

23. A machine for mending runs in fabrics I I including a needle provided with means for manipulating the threads of. a run to close thelattenthe. needle being locatedin a delinite position for reciprocation, a movable form adapted to receive the fabric to support the same in position to be'operated'on by the needle, the form being manually operable by hand at will to. feed the threads of the run successively to the needle. 7 a 24:. A mach ne for mendlng runs 1n fabrics including means for manipulating the threads of a run to close the latter, means,

to support the fabric in position to be operated on by the aforesaid means, one of'said means being operable in a predetermined V definite'position and. the other means being movable at will hand relativeto the means located indefinite position, whereby to present the threads of a runsuccessively i to the mean for "closing the run, V

25. A'method ofrepairing runs in knitted fabrics consisting in supporting the fabric i r, on a movable form, mechanically reciprocatmg a needle through the run to manipulate lie 

